Endocarditis treatment
Many people with endocarditis are successfully treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, surgery may be needed to fix or replace damaged heart valves and clean up any remaining signs of the infection. Medications The type of medication you receive depends on what's causing the endocarditis. High doses of IV antibiotics are used to treat endocarditis caused by bacteria. If you receive IV antibiotics, you'll generally spend a week or more in the hospital so that care providers can determine if the treatment is working. Once your fever and any severe symptoms have gone away, you might be able to leave the hospital. Some people continue IV antibiotics with visits to a provider's office or at home with home care. Antibiotics are usually taken for several weeks. If endocarditis is caused by a fungal infection, antifungal medication is given. Some people need lifelong antifungal pills to prevent endocarditis from returning. Surgery or other procedures Heart valve surgery may be needed to treat persistent endocarditis infections or to replace a damaged valve. Surgery is sometimes needed to treat endocarditis that's caused by a fungal infection. Depending on your specific condition, your health care provider may recommend heart valve repair or replacement. Heart valve replacement uses a mechanical valve or a valve made from cow, pig or human heart tissue (biologic tissue valve).